World's Best Bass Anglers Heading to Columbia, S.C., Aug. 14-17 for Sport's Biggest Week

World's Best Bass Anglers Heading to Columbia, S.C., Aug. 14-17 for Sport's Biggest Week

$1 million award on the line for Forrest Wood Cup champion

COLUMBIA, S.C., July 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The top 77 professionals and 77 co-anglers in the world will compete for a $1 million top award in the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup presented by BP and Castrol -- bass fishing's world championship -- on Lake Murray in Columbia, S.C., Aug. 14-17. Many of these anglers, representing 31 states and Japan, are fishing on teams sponsored by some of the nation's leading brands.

"The Forrest Wood Cup is the crown jewel of professional fishing and the biggest sporting event of any kind held in South Carolina this year," said FLW Outdoors President and CEO Charlie Evans. "It is the most important, most competitive and most difficult to qualify for tournament in our sport. Forrest Wood Cup competitors are world-class athletes with skills that are second to none. These are the absolute best men and women in the sport, and the best of the best will win as much as $1 million in Columbia on August 17."

Anglers from all 50 states plus Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Mexico and Spain competed in the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series Championship, Wal-Mart BFL All-American and TBF National Championship to qualify for the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup. California, a state known for phenomenal bass fishing, is sending the most qualifiers with 24. Arkansas has the second most anglers in the field with 17, followed by Alabama with 13 contenders.

This year's field includes six former Forrest Wood Cup champions led by 2008 Land O'Lakes Angler of the Year, 2003 Forrest Wood Cup champion and FLW Outdoors all-time leading money winner David Dudley of Lynchburg, Va. Other champions in the field are Brent Ehrler of Redlands, Calif. (2006); George Cochran of Hot Springs, Ark. (2005); Luke Clausen of Spokane, Wash. (2004); Dion Hibdon of Stover, Mo. (2000); and David Fritts of Lexington, N.C. (1997).

"We could see records fall during the Forrest Wood Cup," Evans said. "During our last visit to Lake Murray we set a single day FLW Tour weight record with five bass weighing 30 pounds, 15 ounces. The fishing will be fantastic, and with the caliber of anglers competing, it will be a real shoot out."

In addition to seeing top pros weigh-in during the Forrest Wood Cup, fishing fans will be treated to hundreds of exhibits, fishing seminars by Hank Parker, Jimmy Houston and other bass-fishing legends and free daily giveaways for children 14 and under during the Family Fun Zone and Outdoor Show at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center located at 1101 Lincoln St. in Columbia. Daily weigh-ins will be held at the Colonial Center located at 801 Lincoln St. in Columbia each afternoon at 5.

The first 500 children visiting the Family Fun Zone and Outdoor Show Aug. 14 will receive free Berkley fishing line from WIS-TV NBC. The first 500 children visiting the show Aug. 15 will receive a free tackle kit from WIS-TV NBC. The first 750 children through the doors Aug. 16 will receive a free pair of Solar Bat sunglasses from WACH-TV FOX. And on Aug. 17, the first 1,500 children visiting the show will receive a free rod and reel from WLTX-TV CBS. One lucky fan over 16 attending the final weigh-in Sunday, Aug. 17, will even win a new Ranger Z-Comanche bass boat powered by Yamaha from The State. Doors open at 2 p.m. Aug. 14-15, and 11 a.m. Aug. 16-17.

The "Best Damn Sports Show Period" will tape a show Aug. 16 from noon to 2 p.m. in the Colonial Center, and country music fans will be treated to a free Tracy Byrd concert hosted by WCOS-97.5 FM at the Colonial Center Aug. 17 at 4 p.m. Admission to all activities is free, and participants in the Ranger boat drawing must be present during the Aug. 17 weigh-in at 5 p.m. to win.

Forrest Wood Cup contenders will launch at 7 each morning from Lake Murray Marina and Yacht Club located at 1600 Marina Rd., in Irmo, S.C.

Coverage of the Forrest Wood Cup, hosted by the Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board, will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States Sept. 28 and Oct. 5 as part of the "FLW Outdoors" television program. "FLW Outdoors" is also broadcast in Canada on WFN (World Fishing Network) and to more than 429 million households in the Europe, Africa, and Asia through a distribution agreement with Matchroom Sport, making it the most widely distributed fishing program in the world. The program airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern time. Check local listings for times in your area.

FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. In 2008 alone the organization is offering more than 90,000 anglers the chance to win over $40 million through 230 tournaments in 10 circuits targeting bass, walleye, redfish, kingfish and striped bass.

For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit http://www.flwoutdoors.com/ or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player's Advantage, visit http://www.fantasyfishing.com/ .

PRO FIELD
NAME CITY STATE QUALIFYING CIRCUIT
ANDRE MOORE ALABASTER AL WAL-MART FLW SERIES
STEVE KENNEDY AUBURN AL WAL-MART FLW SERIES
GREG PUGH CULLMAN AL WAL-MART FLW TOUR
DEREK REMITZ GRANT AL WAL-MART FLW SERIES
KYLE MABREY MCCALLA AL WAL-MART FLW SERIES
SCOTT CANTERBURY ODENVILLE AL WAL-MART FLW TOUR
GREG VINSON WETUMPKA AL WAL-MART FLW TOUR
JIM DILLARD BAUXITE AR WAL-MART FLW TOUR
LARRY NIXON BEE BRANCH AR WAL-MART FLW SERIES
RON SHUFFIELD BISMARCK AR WAL-MART FLW TOUR
GEORGE E. COCHRAN HOT SPRINGS AR WAL-MART FLW SERIES
TERRY BOLTON JONESBORO AR WAL-MART FLW TOUR
MARK ROSE MARION AR WAL-MART FLW SERIES
GREG BOHANNAN ROGERS AR STREN SERIES
RAY SCHEIDE RUSSELLVILLE AR WAL-MART FLW TOUR
CARL SVEBEK III SILOAM SPRINGS AR WAL-MART FLW TOUR
MICHAEL ROOKE LAKE HAVASU CITY AZ WAL-MART FLW SERIES
BRETT HITE PHOENIX AZ WAL-MART FLW SERIES
MICHAEL C. TUCK ANTELOPE CA WAL-MART FLW SERIES
MICHAEL BENNETT LINCOLN CA WAL-MART FLW SERIES
BOBBY BARRACK OAKLEY CA WAL-MART FLW SERIES
GABE BOLIVAR RAMONA CA WAL-MART FLW TOUR
MATHEW SAAVEDRA REDDING CA STREN SERIES
BRENT EHRLER REDLANDS CA WAL-MART FLW SERIES
CLAYTON MEYER SAN DIEGO CA WAL-MART FLW SERIES
CHRIS ZALDAIN SAN JOSE CA WAL-MART FLW SERIES
ROB RIEHL TRACY CA WAL-MART FLW SERIES
JIMMY REESE WITTER SPRINGS CA WAL-MART FLW SERIES
TERRY BAKSAY EASTON CT WAL-MART FLW TOUR
SCOTT R. MARTIN CLEWISTON FL WAL-MART FLW SERIES
GLENN BROWNE OCALA FL WAL-MART FLW TOUR
KOBY KREIGER OKEECHOBEE FL WAL-MART FLW SERIES
JT KENNEY PORT CHARLOTTE FL WAL-MART FLW SERIES
MIKE JACKSON SAN MATEO FL STREN SERIES
MARK HARDIN JASPER GA WAL-MART FLW TOUR
NEIL RUSSELL NAMPA ID WAL-MART FLW SERIES
KEN WICK STAR ID WAL-MART FLW SERIES
JASON HICKEY WEISER ID WAL-MART FLW SERIES
JOHN DEVERE BEREA KY WAL-MART FLW TOUR
DAN MOREHEAD PADUCAH KY WAL-MART FLW TOUR
DANNY CORREIA MARLBOROUGH MA WAL-MART FLW TOUR
KEVIN VIDA CLARE MI WAL-MART FLW TOUR
NATE WELLMAN JENISON MI WAL-MART FLW TOUR
ART FERGUSON III ST. CLAIR SHORES MI WAL-MART FLW TOUR
JIM MOYNAGH CARVER MN WAL-MART FLW TOUR
CHAD GRIGSBY MAPLE GROVE MN WAL-MART FLW TOUR
RANDY BLAUKAT JASPER MO WAL-MART FLW TOUR
DION HIBDON STOVER MO WAL-MART FLW SERIES
BRIAN TRAVIS CONOVER NC TBF - THE BASS FEDERATION
CHRIS BAUMGARDNER GASTONIA NC WAL-MART FLW TOUR
JOEL RICHARDSON KERNERSVILLE NC WAL-MART FLW SERIES
DAVID FRITTS LEXINGTON NC WAL-MART FLW SERIES
CHRIS ELLIOTT MOREHEAD CITY NC WAL-MART FLW TOUR
BRYAN THRIFT SHELBY NC WAL-MART FLW TOUR
ALVIN SHAW STATE ROAD NC WAL-MART FLW TOUR
KEVIN BISHOP HILTON NY WAL-MART FLW SERIES
VIC VATALARO KENT OH WAL-MART FLW TOUR
JAY YELAS CORVALLIS OR WAL-MART FLW TOUR
DAVE LEFEBRE UNION CITY PA WAL-MART FLW SERIES
ANDY MONTGOMERY BLACKSBURG SC WAL-MART FLW TOUR
NICK GAINEY CHARLESTON SC STREN SERIES
ANTHONY GAGLIARDI PROSPERITY SC WAL-MART FLW TOUR
ANDY MORGAN DAYTON TN WAL-MART FLW TOUR
BRANDON COULTER KNOXVILLE TN WAL-MART FLW TOUR
OTT DEFOE KNOXVILLE TN WAL-MART FLW TOUR
CRAIG POWERS ROCKWOOD TN WAL-MART FLW TOUR
CHARLIE INGRAM SANTA FE TN WAL-MART FLW TOUR
JERRY GREEN DEL RIO TX WAL-MART FLW TOUR
BUD PRUITT HOUSTON TX WAL-MART FLW TOUR
CLARK WENDLANDT LEANDER TX WAL-MART FLW SERIES
SHINICHI FUKAE MINEOLA TX WAL-MART FLW TOUR
DAVID CURTIS TRINITY TX STREN SERIES
DAVID P. DUDLEY LYNCHBURG VA WAL-MART FLW SERIES
JACOB POWROZNIK PRINCE GEORGE VA WAL-MART FLW TOUR
SHAYNE BERLO VIENNA VA BFL
CURT LYTLE ZUNI VA WAL-MART FLW TOUR
LUKE CLAUSEN SPOKANE WA WAL-MART FLW TOUR

CO-ANGLER FIELD
NAME CITY STATE QUALIFYING CIRCUIT
SHANE PATTERSON ALEXANDER CITY AL WAL-MART FLW TOUR
DAVID HUDSON JASPER AL WAL-MART FLW TOUR
TODD LEE JASPER AL WAL-MART FLW TOUR
BRYAN TALMADGE PELL CITY AL WAL-MART FLW TOUR
TY HESTER RUSSELLVILLE AL WAL-MART FLW TOUR
BARRY ISBELL TRUSSVILLE AL WAL-MART FLW TOUR
BILL GIFT ALIX AR WAL-MART FLW SERIES
STETSON BLAYLOCK BENTON AR WAL-MART FLW SERIES
SPENCER SHUFFIELD BISMARCK AR WAL-MART FLW TOUR
FRANK DIVIS SR FAYETTEVILLE AR WAL-MART FLW SERIES
KEVIN KOONE GREENBRIER AR WAL-MART FLW SERIES
PAMELA BOLTON JONESBORO AR WAL-MART FLW TOUR
LARRY CARTER LITTLE ROCK AR WAL-MART FLW TOUR
DOUG WEISER SPRINGDALE AR WAL-MART FLW TOUR
LEWIS E. SOUTHARD CHANDLER AZ WAL-MART FLW SERIES
TERRENCE RATH LAKE HAVASU CITY AZ WAL-MART FLW SERIES
TROY CRAWFORD PHOENIX AZ WAL-MART FLW SERIES
MICHAEL SPENCER ALPINE CA WAL-MART FLW SERIES
GAYLE JANES BERMUDA DUNES CA WAL-MART FLW SERIES
MIKE ILOSKI ESCONDIDO CA WAL-MART FLW SERIES
JUSTIN LUCAS FOLSOM CA WAL-MART FLW SERIES
STEVE LINDNER LAKEWOOD CA WAL-MART FLW SERIES
MARVY TUTSON LOS ANGELES CA WAL-MART FLW SERIES
YOUNG YANG LOS ANGELES CA STREN SERIES
BILL SCHARTON OAKDALE CA WAL-MART FLW SERIES
PAT WILSON PENNGROVE CA WAL-MART FLW SERIES
CLAUDIO SILVA RIVERBANK CA WAL-MART FLW SERIES
RICHARD TAYLOR SHINGLE SPRINGS CA WAL-MART FLW SERIES
MARK DANIELS JR SUISUN CITY CA WAL-MART FLW SERIES
DARRELL HAGOOD WILTON CA WAL-MART FLW SERIES
PHILIP GARCIA YUBA CITY CA WAL-MART FLW SERIES
BOB BJORKLUND CENTENNIAL CO WAL-MART FLW SERIES
JESS CARABALLO DANBURY CT WAL-MART FLW SERIES
PAUL MUELLER SOUTHBURY CT WAL-MART FLW TOUR
ROBERT CROSNOE INVERNESS FL BFL
MICHAEL MARSHALL DAWSONVILLE GA WAL-MART FLW TOUR
JUSTIN SOPPE MIDDLETON ID WAL-MART FLW SERIES
AARON MCMANAWAY ALTAMONT IL WAL-MART FLW TOUR
DEREK JENKEL PINCKNEYVILLE IL WAL-MART FLW TOUR
MARK VOS WHITE HEATH IL WAL-MART FLW SERIES
LARRY HOSTETLER FLOYDS KNOBS IN WAL-MART FLW TOUR
LEO REITER GOSHEN IN WAL-MART FLW TOUR
TEDDY BRADLEY MISHAWAKA IN WAL-MART FLW TOUR
RON FABISZAK SOUTH BEND IN WAL-MART FLW SERIES
MASAHIRO YANASE NAGOYA JAPAN WAL-MART FLW TOUR
BRANDON HUNTER BENTON KY WAL-MART FLW TOUR
JIM SMITH GEORGETOWN KY WAL-MART FLW SERIES
MIKE WILLIAMS LANCASTER KY WAL-MART FLW TOUR
BRAD ROBERTS NANCY KY WAL-MART FLW TOUR
JEFF TAYLOR OLMSTEAD KY WAL-MART FLW TOUR
BEECHER STRUNK SOMERSET KY WAL-MART FLW TOUR
JASON SHERWOOD DAMASCUS MD WAL-MART FLW TOUR
MOO BAE WEST FRIENDSHIP MD WAL-MART FLW TOUR
CHAD PIPKENS HOLT MI WAL-MART FLW TOUR
JOSH CLARK HORTON MI STREN SERIES
BEN KURTH WEST SAINT PAUL MN WAL-MART FLW TOUR
JACQUES FLEISCHMANN SHELL KNOB MO WAL-MART FLW SERIES
KEVIN MCKNIGHT VERSAILLES MO STREN SERIES
SCOTT GIBSON BILOXI MS WAL-MART FLW TOUR
CHRIS HULTS VANCLEAVE MS STREN SERIES
NATHAN WEBBER BOONE NC WAL-MART FLW TOUR
BURLEY HAMILL III WAKE FOREST NC WAL-MART FLW TOUR
ANDY SCHOLZ RENO NV WAL-MART FLW SERIES
STEVE REDWINE BLUE ASH OH WAL-MART FLW TOUR
DIRK DAVENPORT DELAWARE OH WAL-MART FLW TOUR
ANDREW LEMLE PERRYSBURG OH WAL-MART FLW TOUR
KEN KEIRSEY OWASSO OK WAL-MART FLW TOUR
MIKE DRAIN PURCELL OK WAL-MART FLW TOUR
JEFF GENGLER TULSA OK WAL-MART FLW TOUR
JERRY WEISINGER WYANDOTTE OK WAL-MART FLW TOUR
DOUG CALDWELL KANE PA WAL-MART FLW TOUR
DEARAL RODGERS CAMDEN SC WAL-MART FLW TOUR
CRAIG FREDRYCHOWSKI LEXINGTON SC TBF - THE BASS FEDERATION
BRIAN TIDWELL SENECA SC WAL-MART FLW SERIES
HECTOR DELAGARZA GARLAND TX WAL-MART FLW TOUR
KEITH HONEYCUTT TEMPLE TX STREN SERIES
WADE HEADRICK DRAPER UT WAL-MART FLW SERIES

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: FLW Outdoors

CONTACT: Dave Washburn, Vice President of Communications, FLW Outdoors,
+1-270-252-1607

Web site: http://www.flwoutdoors.com/
http://www.fantasyfishing.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Visit the FLW Outdoors Media Center at http://mc.flwoutdoors.com for additional information and photos.

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